July - August 2008
A monthly e-newsletter by UNEP/MAP
IN THIS ISSUE:
UNEP NEWS
MAP COMPONENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
and BARCELONA CONVENTION
UNEP: Green energy to enrich Beijing Olympic
UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN LAUNCHED IN
European EPA sets out green policy vision
experience
PARIS
The heads of Europe's environment agencies have urged
The UN environment programme, UNEP, said that solar
A high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government
a revolution in the EU's approach to environment policy.
energy, wind farms and recycled water are among the
organised in Paris on 13th July had the main objective of
EU could get climate commissioner
green features that helped power experience of about
launching the French initiative for the setting up of the
The European commission is likely to create a new post
7 million spectators to the opening of the Beijing 2008
Union for the Mediterranean.
of climate change commissioner when its mandate is
Olympic Games.
New study highlights present and future
renewed next year.
Leading Automaker Toyota Motor Europe Joins
maritime traffi
c fl ows in the Mediterranean
EU green crime law set for publication
UNEP's Climate Neutral Network
The Mediterranean Sea is amongst the world's busiest
The fi nal wording of a new EU law criminalising the
Toyota Motor Europe has become the fi rst car manufacturer to
waterways accounting for 15 per cent of global shipping
join the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), the bold initiative by
activity by number of calls and 10 per cent by vessel
most serious off ences against the environment has been
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
deadweight tonnes (DWT).
published by the Council of Ministers.
Stamps To Promote Sustainable Lifestyles
Expo Zaragoza 2008
Spanish businesses lose EU Natura sites case
The French postal service "La Poste" and UNEP have
International Expo on Water and Sustainable
A European Commission decision to include several
partnered to publish a booklet of letter stamps inspired
development
southern Spanish sites in the EU's Natura wildlife
by the project UNEP/UNESCO youthXchange.
protection network does not directly aff ect the
Signing of an agreement between the Principality businesses located within them and should not be
of Monaco and Plan Bleu
overturned, the European court of justice has said.
Patrick Van Klaveren, Permanent Representative to Scientifi c,
Environmental and Humanitarian International Bodies,
Spain launches fi ght against desertifi cation
Principality of Monaco, and Henri-Luc Thibault, Director of Plan
A national action programme to combat desertifi cation
Bleu, signed on 2nd July, 2008, an agreement running over
entered force in Spain, one of the Contracting Parties to
several years (2008-2011).
the Barcelona Convention.

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INDEX
UNEP NEWS
UNEP: GREEN ENERGY TO ENRICH BEIJING
LEADING AUTOMAKER TOYOTA MOTOR
improvements in fuel effi
ciency and conducting
UNEP NEWS
OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE
EUROPE JOINS UNEP'S CLIMATE NEUTRAL
research into low-CO2 alternative energy sources.
The UN environment
Toyota Motor Europe has already cut average energy
NETWORK
UNEP: Green energy
programme, UNEP, said
consumption per-vehicle in the production process
Toyota Motor Europe has become the fi rst car
to enrich Beijing
that solar energy, wind
by 44 per cent since 2001. The company's Five-Year
manufacturer to join the Climate Neutral Network
Olympic experience
farms and recycled
Environmental Action Plan calls for further cuts in
(CN Net), the bold initiative by the United Nations
water are among
energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and all of
Environment Programme (UNEP).
Leading Automaker
the green features
its logistics partners now have to report their CO2
The CN Net is a
Toyota Motor Europe
that helped power
emissions in accordance with Toyota's Green Purchasing
vast web-based
Joins UNEP's Climate
experience of about 7
Guidelines.
network aiming to
Neutral Network
million spectators to the
federate the growing
opening of the Beijing
wave of nations,
STAMPS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE
Stamps To Promote
2008 Olympic Games.
local authorities,
LIFESTYLES
Sustainable Lifestyles

"Anybody who knows
private companies
The French postal service "La Poste" and UNEP have
what the situation was
and organizations
partnered to publish a booklet of letter stamps inspired
like 10 years ago in Beijing will clearly acknowledge that
which are pledging to
by the project UNEP/UNESCO youthXchange.
an enormous amount has been done," UNEP Executive
signifi cantly reduce
This Carnet has the dimension
Director Achim Steiner said in a statement.
their emissions or even neutralize them.
and shape of a business card

He said the legacy of this Olympic Games will be in

Toyota Motor Europe is the European headquarters
and contains 10 stamps, each
part that it has left in place an infrastructure for public
of the world's largest auto manufacturer Toyota Motor
of which carries a message related to sustainable
transport and cleaner vehicles that will benefi t not only
Corporation, an acknowledged leader in environmental
consumption.
the Olympic Games but also the population of Beijing
technologies which has sold more than 1.5 million

The stamps present 10 objects or aspects of our daily
and other parts of China.
hybrid cars worldwide.
lives from diff erent angles so as to make us think about

"So in that sense, air pollution was an incentive to

As the company behind Prius, the world's fi rst mass-
our lifestyles through synthesis, humour, and beautiful
do something that was long overdue in China's own
produced hybrid car, Toyota says it is more committed
images (the sun/heater or the bicycle/transport of the
interest," said Steiner, who attended the opening
than ever to developing advanced and innovative
future, etc.). The answers and indications on what to do
ceremony of the Games.
technologies towards sustainable mobility.
are in the back cover of the carnet, which is designed to

The variety of clean energy and energy saving

Mr. Willy Tomboy, Environmental Offi
cer at Toyota
be a reusable reminder fi tting in the wallet.
solutions employed by venue designers in Beijing
Motor Europe, said: "Toyota Motor Europe (TME)

The stamp is targeted at a large public and represents
provided a positive showcase and an inspiration for
is excited to join forces with the Climate Neutral
for the two organizations a tool for a large scale
future Games organizers, according to a report entitled
Network, as part of a shared mandate to tackle the
awareness campaign in France on sustainable lifestyles:
"Beijing 2008 Olympic Games -- An Environmental
issue of climate change. We have long believed that
7 million Carnets will be sold through the postal offi
ces
Review."
environmental sustainability represents one of the
across the country for a total of 70 million individual

The UN agency said the solar power is being used
greatest challenges of the 21st century. The network
stamps. The life of a stamp is multiple: from its purchase
to light lawns, courtyards and streets at several venues
off ers a rare opportunity to leverage resources and
by the customers to the receiver's discovery, the journey
including the Olympic Village.
share knowledge with like-minded organizations to
of a stamp witnessed by several people.

The National Stadium, where events such as
aff ect positive change in communities the world-over."
The Carnet is a way for La Poste to highlight its values
athletics and football were held, is being lit by a 130 KW

Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director of UNEP,
and commitment towards sustainable development (La
photovoltaic system, UNEP said.
said: "We are delighted to welcome Toyota Motor
Poste is signatory to the Global Compact) and to benefi t

"At the 400,000 square meters Olympic Village,
Europe into the Climate Neutral Network, an initiative
from UNEP expertise. For UNEP, this collaboration has
reclaimed water from the Qinghe sewage treatment
which is gaining more and more momentum. The
been an occasion to benefi t from an excellent outreach
plant is being used for heating and cooling systems,
participation of a major company like Toyota is a sign
mechanisms to the public.
around 60 percent in electrical savings is anticipated".
that private companies are increasingly playing their

part on the road to a low carbon society."

Toyota is currently developing a broad array of

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
MAP
UNION FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
will build on the Horizon 2020 initiative in which UNEP/
"Euromed Cooperation on Maritime Safety and
COMPONENTS
LAUNCHED IN PARIS
MAP is directly involved together with the European
Prevention of Pollution from Ships * SAFEMED (MED
A high-level meeting of Heads of State and Government
Investment Bank. The project will address the issue of
2005/109-573)", REMPEC commissioned Lloyd's Marine
and
organised in Paris on 13th July had the main objective
coastal and marine protected areas, with specifi c focus
Intelligence Unit (LLOYD'S MIU) to prepare a Study
BARCELONA
of launching the French initiative for the setting up of
on the water and waste sector.
CONVENTION
the Union for the Mediterranean, based on the existing

Other projects approved at the Paris Summit concern
Barcelona Process, in order to enhance multilateral
maritime and land highways; civil protection; alternative
Union for the
relations, increase co-ownership of the process, set
energies (Mediterranean Solar Plan); higher education
Mediterranean
governance on the principle of equal footing and
and research (Euro-Mediterranean University); and the
launched in paris
translate it into concrete projects with higher visibility.
Mediterranean Business Development Initiative.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had a

A follow-up meeting is scheduled for November
New study
2008, when Foreign Aff airs Ministers will have to
highlights present
decide, among other topics, on the modalities and
and future maritime
terms of participation in the projects. They will also
traffi c fl ows in the
address details on the mandate of the new institutional
Mediterranean
structure, the functioning of the co-presidency as well
as the composition, seat and funding of the Secretariat
Expo Zaragoza
that will be decided on the basis of consensus and that
on the Traffi
c Flow Analysis in the Mediterranean
2008 : International
should be operational by the end of 2008.
Sea. The objective of the Study was to identify and
Expo on Water
analyse major maritime traffi
c fl ows and trends within
and Sustainable
NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS PRESENT AND
the Mediterranean Sea using LLOYD'S MIU historical
development
FUTURE MARITIME TRAFFIC FLOWS IN THE
movements databases for the last fi ve to ten years, as
appropriate.
MEDITERRANEAN

The Study, which should serve as an important tool
The Mediterranean Sea is amongst the world's busiest
for all the Mediterranean coastal States, highlights
waterways accounting for 15 per cent of global shipping
a number of interesting points that refl ect both the
activity by number of calls and 10 per cent by vessel
present traffi
c fl ow pattern in the Mediterranean Sea
deadweight tonnes (DWT), says new study. Overall
and the future trends and projections
vessel activity within the Mediterranean has been
rising steadily over the past 10 years and is projected
prominent role during the meeting, which was attended
EXPO ZARAGOZA 2008 : INTERNATIONAL
to increase by a further 18 per cent over the next 10
by Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Aff airs
years. Transits through the Mediterranean are expected
EXPO ON WATER AND SUSTAINABLE
Ministers from 43 countries, including EU member
to rise by 23 per cent. Increases in vessel activity will
DEVELOPMENT
States and all countries bordering the Mediterranean.
be coupled with the deployment of ever larger vessels.
On 15th July 2008, Plan Bleu and the Regional Activity

Organisations present were the Cooperation
Chemical tanker and container vessels will show the
Centre for Cleaner Production participated jointly
Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, League of
highest rates of growth in respect of port callings
in a workshop organized by the Pavilion of Citizens'
the Arab States, African union, Arab Maghreb Union,
within the Mediterranean over the next ten years whilst
initiatives (el faro) in the framework of the thematic
Organisation of the Islamic Conference, African
increases in transits will be most pronounced in the
week "Water uses and abuses". For Plan Bleu, Gaëlle
Development Bank, European Investment Bank, World
product and crude tanker sector.
Thivet thus presented the situation
Bank, Alliance of Civilisations and UNEP/MAP.

In line with Specifi c Objective 9 of the Regional
of water resources and demands

The summit was a unique opportunity for UNEP/MAP
Strategy for Prevention of and Response to Marine
in the Mediterranean, including a
to increase its visibility at the highest level possible of
Pollution from Ships, which aims at reducing the risk
prospective view and underlining
European and Mediterranean politics.
of collisions by inter alia identifying the main shipping
the necessity to use water more

Of special importance to UNEP/MAP is the approval
lanes for vessels carrying oil and other hazardous
rationally and effi
ciently, in the
of the project on de-pollution of the Mediterranean, as
and noxious substances in the Mediterranean Sea,
diff erent using sectors. The RAC
one of six projects approved by the summit. The project
and within the framework of the EU-funded Project
for Cleaner Production presented

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INDEX
MAP COMPONENTS and BARCELONA CONVENTION
examples of good water savings practices, concerning

This would "enhance the reputation of environmental
policy.
MAP
notably the industrial sector.
legislation and free up resources to better focus on

A new "college" of 27 commissioners will be
COMPONENTS
new and big environmental challenges such as climate
nominated by EU governments when the current
and
SIGNING OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
change," the agency chiefs believe.
commission's period of offi
ce ends next summer. The
BARCELONA
PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO AND PLAN BLEU

In the long term the EU should "move away from
commissioner chosen as president of the body will
CONVENTION
fragmented sector-based regulation" towards a smaller
have the sole right to decide whether or not to create a
Patrick Van Klaveren,
number of horizontal direc-
climate portfolio.
Permanent
Signing of an
tives setting out environmen-

Current president José
Representative to
agreement between
tal outcomes and standards,
Manuel Barroso has made climate
Scientifi c, Environmental
the Principality of
supported by a directive or
a major EU policy priority and is
and Humanitarian
Monaco and Plan Bleu
code detailing "approaches
seeking nomination for a second
International Bodies,
and mechanisms where a
term in the role.
Principality of Monaco,
harmonised approach across
Greek
environment
ENVIRONMENTAL
and Henri-Luc Thibault,
member states is required".
commissioner Stavros Dimas is also
NEWS
Director of Plan Bleu,
Member states would have
seeking a second nomination and
signed on 2nd July, 2008,
fl exibility to "tailor approaches
would be keen to head the new
European EPA sets out
an agreement running
to local circumstances".
department. He would be unlikely
green policy vision
over several years (2008-2011). This agreement defi nes

The new approach should
to retain the environment portfolio
the nature and the terms of the support the Principality
allow regulators to "target ef-
because commissioners are generally
EU could get climate
of Monaco intends to grant to Plan Bleu over the
fort on higher risk businesses
discouraged from doing the same job
commissioner
period 2008-2011. The aid provided by the Principality
or substances and adopt a
for a second term.
of Monaco will complement, in particular, the works
more proportionate approach towards lower risk busi-

A new climate change directorate-general (DG)
EU green crime law set carried out by Plan Bleu, aiming at performing territorial
nesses or substances while still protecting environmen-
would be created to back up the new commissioner,
for publication
prospective methods and tools and producing on a
tal outcomes."
taking on tasks in trade, enterprise, competition and
regular basis reports dealing with environment and

The report holds up the water framework
energy policy that are currently dealt with across various
sustainable development in the Mediterranean.
directive as a good example of horizontal legislation
commission departments.
that comprehensively tackles a "broad sector of

The new commissioner would be thrust into high-
environmental policy". A similar initiative could be
profi le action at the Copenhagen world climate summit
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS devised to cover all regulation of industry, it says.
in December 2009.
In the nearer term, permitting and inspection regimes
EUROPEAN EPA SETS OUT GREEN POLICY
for the waste framework, integrated pollution
EU GREEN CRIME LAW SET FOR
VISION
prevention and control (IPPC) and landfi ll directives
PUBLICATION
The heads of Europe's environment agencies have urged
should be integrated, there should be a "compendium
The fi nal wording of a new EU law criminalising the
a revolution in the EU's approach to environment policy.
of environmental standards", and the possibility of a
most serious off ences against the environment has
In a report aimed at the European Commission they
single permit or control process implementing multiple
been published by the Council of Ministers. The law will
say member states should have more fl exibility to meet
pieces of legislation should be introduced.
be rubber-stamped by governments after the summer
EU-set "environmental outcomes" and that regulation
break and published in the bloc's offi
cial journal shortly
should be targeted more strongly at higher-risk fi rms.
EU COULD GET CLIMATE COMMISSIONER
after. It will have to be written into national law by the

The report says the EU's better regulation initiative
The European commission is likely to create a new post
27 EU states within two years.
must become more ambitious in the environment
of climate change commissioner when its mandate is

Of particular importance to the Mediterranean region
policy sector. "We need to move away from an agenda
renewed next year.
are the issues of releasing pollution; managing waste or
driven solely by administrative burden to one whose

The move would unite climate-related policy roles
managing dangerous activities or substances in any way
primary focus is improving the eff ectiveness of the
currently held by several diff erent commissioners. It
that "causes or is likely to cause" death or serious injury
delivery of environmental outcomes," according to a
would also bolster the profi le of EU climate policy as the
to people or substantial damage to environmental
report published by EPA.
bloc enters negotiations on a post-2012 world climate
quality or biodiversity; shipping waste and damaging

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INDEX
ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
UNEP/MAP
habitats.
"margin of discretion" under EU nature law to protect
ENVIRONMENTAL
Key 2008 Dates
The
off ences also include handling radioactive
the site as it felt best.
NEWS
materials, killing or trading wildlife, and producing or

Any disruption of business activities were down to
selling ozone-depleting substances.
the government's implementation of EU law, it said.
Spanish businesses
67th Meeting of the Bureau of

The new legislation was settled politically in May
The businesses were therefore not "directly aff ected"
lose EU Natura sites
18-19
the Contracting Parties to the
after MEPs and governments agreed compromises on
by the commission decision and their challenge was
case
September
Barcelona Convention
key elements. It lists all activities that can be classed as
inadmissible.
Madrid, Spain
criminal off ences across.

The court rejected the commission's argument that
Spain launches fi ght

Governments must treat as a crime any instance
the case should have been dismissed on the grounds
against desertifi cation where these activities infringe existing EU environment that its decision on the list of sites was only an interim
III International Conference
20-23
laws and are committed "intentionally or with at least
stage in the process of building the Natura network and
on Marine Turtles
serious negligence".
that the businesses therefore had no right in EU law to
October
Hammamet Tunisie

Authorities must ensure these off ences are punished
challenge it.
by "eff ective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal

The court said that, despite the fact that the list
penalties". But earlier proposals for punishments to be
of Mediterranean sites could be revised, and that it
22-23
Seminar on climate change
harmonised at EU level were shelved after the European
formed only a part of the process of building the Natura
October
Marseille France
court of justice ruled last year that this must be left to
network, the commission's decision "defi nitively fi xed"
governments to decide individually.
the list and was therefore open to legal challenge.
United Nations Day

Liability to criminal prosecution will be extended
both to companies and individuals within them.
SPAIN LAUNCHES FIGHT AGAINST
24 October
Athens, Greece
Prosecution will also be possible where the off ence took
DESERTIFICATION
place because of a lack of supervision or control. It will
A national action
also be a criminal off ence to "incite, aid or abet" criminal
programme to combat
November
Mediterranean Union
conduct.
desertifi cation entered
2008
Paris, France
force in Spain, one of the
SPANISH BUSINESSES LOSE EU NATURA
Contracting Parties to the
SITES CASE
Barcelona Convention.
56th Meeting of the
A European Commission

Over one-third of Spain's surface area faces high
Executive Committee of
decision to include several
or moderate risk of desertifi cation, the environment
8-11
the Multilateral Fund for
southern Spanish sites in
ministry said. The programme has been under
the EU's Natura wildlife
discussion since 2000 and complies with the 1996
November
the Implementation of the
protection network does not
UN Convention on Desertifi cation. It identifi es
Montreal Protocol
directly aff ect the businesses
reforestation, control of grazing and improved water
Doha Qatar
located within them and
management as the most eff ective means of countering
should not be overturned, the European court of justice
desertifi cation.
9th Meeting of the
has said.

In July, the Spanish government had also announced
Conference of the Parties of

A group of small businesses located within sites
the creation of a special commission on climate change
1-5
the Convention on Migratory
near Almeria and Cadiz in Andalusia challenged the
to strengthen cross-sector action on global warming.
December
commission's decision to include them as part of the list
The commission is made up of the government's two
Species
of protected zones in the Mediterranean biogeographic
vice-presidents and nine ministers. It has identifi ed
Rome,Italy
region . They feared the designation would constrain
six strategic lines of action to complement measures
their activities.
package adopted last covering waste emissions,
20th Session of the Council

But the court said the decision merely confi rmed a
transport, buildings, energy, forestry and clean
21-22
of Arab Ministers
Spanish government decision to nominate the sites for
technologies.
December
Natura inclusion and did not aff ect the government's
Cairo,Egypt

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